I'm looking for opinions on 45's. Is a Wilson CQB compact worth the money compared to a Springfield or Kimber?
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Re: Concealed carry 45.
I have carried a Wilson CQB compact for a few years. I am very happy with it. I have even shot it in a few 3-gun and IPSC matches. Very reliable, zero malfunctions. What you get with Wilson is a .45 ready to go out of the box with a very good trigger. Often with other brands you have to spend money to build them up to the level of a Wilson. Look around on Gunbroker and GunsAmerica and often you can find one lightly used for a good price.
I have carried a Wilson CQB compact for a few years. I am very happy with it. I have even shot it in a few 3-gun and IPSC matches. Very reliable, zero malfunctions. What you get with Wilson is a .45 ready to go out of the box with a very good trigger. Often with other brands you have to spend money to build them up to the level of a Wilson. Look around on Gunbroker and GunsAmerica and often you can find one lightly used for a good price.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
I don't own Wilson Combat, but have fired a few and they are gtg on fit and reliability. I would not hesitate to consider one second hand.
Jeffvn
I don't own Wilson Combat, but have fired a few and they are gtg on fit and reliability. I would not hesitate to consider one second hand.
Jeffvn
Re: Concealed carry 45.
I own two identical CQB, Wilson and carry one every day. I use an inside the belt holster most of the time with a outside the belt shirt. Now and then a belt holster. Fired a lot of ammo through both and NEVER a malfunction. knock--knock!!
Great weapons
I also own a springfield and have friends who own kimbers. I have nothing but good things to say about my springfield although it has not seen the use of my QCB,s/
Whatever you go with=get great mags and shoot that weapon a minimum of four times a year to stay current. Shoot the ammo you carry==get used to it and have confidence in it, and always hit em atleast two times!!
I own two identical CQB, Wilson and carry one every day. I use an inside the belt holster most of the time with a outside the belt shirt. Now and then a belt holster. Fired a lot of ammo through both and NEVER a malfunction. knock--knock!!
Great weapons
I also own a springfield and have friends who own kimbers. I have nothing but good things to say about my springfield although it has not seen the use of my QCB,s/
Whatever you go with=get great mags and shoot that weapon a minimum of four times a year to stay current. Shoot the ammo you carry==get used to it and have confidence in it, and always hit em atleast two times!!
Re: Concealed carry 45.
I heard tell a STI Escort was the Cat's Ass, but I be liking those wee Springfield Ultra Comp's myself
I heard tell a STI Escort was the Cat's Ass, but I be liking those wee Springfield Ultra Comp's myself
Re: Concealed carry 45.
I think the CQB compact or Colt CCO is the perfect size for warm weather carry. the Wilson's are great right from the box.
I think the CQB compact or Colt CCO is the perfect size for warm weather carry. the Wilson's are great right from the box.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
I carry a Wilson Sentinel in a Mitch Rosen IWB holster (ARG model). I've had the Sentinel since 2002, and have no complaints. Make no mistake though, it's not for everyone, since the grip is extremely short and requires a rather unorthodox hand position to keep all fingers on the grip.
If you're willing to put in the the time to get used to it, I don't think you can do much better than the Wilson Sentinel. Mitch also makes a very good "open top" holster that keeps the pistol secure regardless of position.
Good luck on your search. If you're like most, you'll go through several models before you find the perfect carry 1911 (took me 3). I'm just glad they enjoy a high resale value.
I carry a Wilson Sentinel in a Mitch Rosen IWB holster (ARG model). I've had the Sentinel since 2002, and have no complaints. Make no mistake though, it's not for everyone, since the grip is extremely short and requires a rather unorthodox hand position to keep all fingers on the grip.
If you're willing to put in the the time to get used to it, I don't think you can do much better than the Wilson Sentinel. Mitch also makes a very good "open top" holster that keeps the pistol secure regardless of position.
Good luck on your search. If you're like most, you'll go through several models before you find the perfect carry 1911 (took me 3). I'm just glad they enjoy a high resale value.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
Anyone carry in a crossbreed supertuck?
I have a usp compact .40 which I also carry as a duty weapon (and really like) but it really is too thick for iwb carry. I would be interested in a concealable .45 as well - thought the kimber with the crimson trace grips looked pretty good but havent shot one...
Anyone carry in a crossbreed supertuck?
I have a usp compact .40 which I also carry as a duty weapon (and really like) but it really is too thick for iwb carry. I would be interested in a concealable .45 as well - thought the kimber with the crimson trace grips looked pretty good but havent shot one...
Re: Concealed carry 45.
I've carried everything from the cqb compact, cqb compact with a magwell, bobtailed full size and full size with a magwell. The sentinel definitely takes a lot of practice to get a good grip, and you have to shoot one a lot to be really good with one.
I actually like the bobtail full size grip ~4" barrel versions over the compact/officers square frames. They conceal about the same but you can get a much more solid grip on the full size frame and easily get all your fingers on the grip. I also found the full size with a bobtail was easier to get a consistent grip when drawing in a hurry. A CQB compact with the magwell is about perfect as well but that sharp corner at the rear for some people prints easier than the bobtail.
As for if a higher end wilson etc. is worth the money, it is worth whatever you are capable of spending. I don't think most realize that the whole purpose is that someday your life or the lives of your family depend on it. That said every maker has some problems with a gun sooner or later, no one produces 100% all the time. You will put a lot of $ into a 1911 to get it to run as well as a glock, that's just the facts, and I love and carry 1911's as much as anyone.
Find a gun you like, buy it, put 500 rounds of FMJ's through it, clean it, lube it, then put 250 rounds of your carry ammo through it AT A MINIMUM, if it fires all 750 rounds with no problems clean it, put it in a holster and call it reliable.
If it hiccups in any way, send it off to be worked on, and repeat the process. Spending more on the gun in the front end helps ensure you only have to do this once, not multiple times.
I've carried everything from the cqb compact, cqb compact with a magwell, bobtailed full size and full size with a magwell. The sentinel definitely takes a lot of practice to get a good grip, and you have to shoot one a lot to be really good with one.
I actually like the bobtail full size grip ~4" barrel versions over the compact/officers square frames. They conceal about the same but you can get a much more solid grip on the full size frame and easily get all your fingers on the grip. I also found the full size with a bobtail was easier to get a consistent grip when drawing in a hurry. A CQB compact with the magwell is about perfect as well but that sharp corner at the rear for some people prints easier than the bobtail.
As for if a higher end wilson etc. is worth the money, it is worth whatever you are capable of spending. I don't think most realize that the whole purpose is that someday your life or the lives of your family depend on it. That said every maker has some problems with a gun sooner or later, no one produces 100% all the time. You will put a lot of $ into a 1911 to get it to run as well as a glock, that's just the facts, and I love and carry 1911's as much as anyone.
Find a gun you like, buy it, put 500 rounds of FMJ's through it, clean it, lube it, then put 250 rounds of your carry ammo through it AT A MINIMUM, if it fires all 750 rounds with no problems clean it, put it in a holster and call it reliable.
If it hiccups in any way, send it off to be worked on, and repeat the process. Spending more on the gun in the front end helps ensure you only have to do this once, not multiple times.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Find a gun you like, buy it, put 500 rounds of FMJ's through it, clean it, lube it, then put 250 rounds of your carry ammo through it AT A MINIMUM, if it fires all 750 rounds with no problems clean it, put it in a holster and call it reliable.</div></div>
Good advice. Avoid companies that require a 500 round "break-in' to make the gun reliable. A break-in should make the gun smoother, not fix problems.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Find a gun you like, buy it, put 500 rounds of FMJ's through it, clean it, lube it, then put 250 rounds of your carry ammo through it AT A MINIMUM, if it fires all 750 rounds with no problems clean it, put it in a holster and call it reliable.</div></div>
Good advice. Avoid companies that require a 500 round "break-in' to make the gun reliable. A break-in should make the gun smoother, not fix problems.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
I carry a Nighthawk T3, love the officer frame / commander slide combo. Give that some thought as well. And to answer your specific question, you will not go wrong with a wilson for carry. Regarding springy or kimber, I would stick with wilson if you can afford it, otherwise go springy.
I carry a Nighthawk T3, love the officer frame / commander slide combo. Give that some thought as well. And to answer your specific question, you will not go wrong with a wilson for carry. Regarding springy or kimber, I would stick with wilson if you can afford it, otherwise go springy.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ToddM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Find a gun you like, buy it, put 500 rounds of FMJ's through it, clean it, lube it, then put 250 rounds of your carry ammo through it AT A MINIMUM, if it fires all 750 rounds with no problems clean it, put it in a holster and call it reliable.
</div></div>
Todd,
Well said, I will have to read more of your posts.
For all the Kimber haters, try this out, I do it for mine and it has fixed the function issues for all of them...
Disassemble the pistol,
Put some toothpaste on the rails (slide and lower) and reassemble.
Run the action (as if you were loading the pistol) back and forth at least 250 times. Especially if you have a gun with a thicker finish, like KimPro or the Desert Warrior finish, you will begin to the wear points. These are the high points that would normally make your gun fail to function in somoe way.
Disassemble, thoroughly clean it, re oil and reassemble. This has cleared up the issues with all of my Kimbers.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ToddM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Find a gun you like, buy it, put 500 rounds of FMJ's through it, clean it, lube it, then put 250 rounds of your carry ammo through it AT A MINIMUM, if it fires all 750 rounds with no problems clean it, put it in a holster and call it reliable.
</div></div>
Todd,
Well said, I will have to read more of your posts.
For all the Kimber haters, try this out, I do it for mine and it has fixed the function issues for all of them...
Disassemble the pistol,
Put some toothpaste on the rails (slide and lower) and reassemble.
Run the action (as if you were loading the pistol) back and forth at least 250 times. Especially if you have a gun with a thicker finish, like KimPro or the Desert Warrior finish, you will begin to the wear points. These are the high points that would normally make your gun fail to function in somoe way.
Disassemble, thoroughly clean it, re oil and reassemble. This has cleared up the issues with all of my Kimbers.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
If you are looking at the Springfield think again. I'm not overly impressed with mine (it's really finicky on ammo) and it was a major factor in why I switched to the S&W M&P 9mm compact......
Not to get off topic, but I carried a Springfield V10 Ultra Compact .45 for a long time. Frankly, it's just too big and heavy for concealed carry. If I'm riding my bike in the cooler months I still carry it because it can be concealed under my riding pants or in a riding jacket. However, I recently switched to an S&W M&P 9mm compact. I can wear it with shorts and an inside the waist band holster and you can't tell that its there.
If you are looking at the Springfield think again. I'm not overly impressed with mine (it's really finicky on ammo) and it was a major factor in why I switched to the S&W M&P 9mm compact......
Not to get off topic, but I carried a Springfield V10 Ultra Compact .45 for a long time. Frankly, it's just too big and heavy for concealed carry. If I'm riding my bike in the cooler months I still carry it because it can be concealed under my riding pants or in a riding jacket. However, I recently switched to an S&W M&P 9mm compact. I can wear it with shorts and an inside the waist band holster and you can't tell that its there.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
Eddie,
I do it to all new Kimbers out of the box. If the gun has an issue in the first 300 - 500 rds, they tell you to break it in. Yea I know, but I think it is due to the tight tolerances in the frames and then the difference in thickness of coatings once the gun is blued / coated and assembled. The treatment of the metal on a desert warrior is thicker than say a Kimpro finish. The Kimpro adheres differently to the MIM parts vs the alloy parts etc. When these coatings are adhered, they round out the hard edges of the metal. The only finish that I know of that maintains the hard edge of its host is MP3. Those round edges in a gun with tight tolerances need to be resharpened. I am by no means a gunsmith, but it works well for me.
Your thoughts?
Eddie,
I do it to all new Kimbers out of the box. If the gun has an issue in the first 300 - 500 rds, they tell you to break it in. Yea I know, but I think it is due to the tight tolerances in the frames and then the difference in thickness of coatings once the gun is blued / coated and assembled. The treatment of the metal on a desert warrior is thicker than say a Kimpro finish. The Kimpro adheres differently to the MIM parts vs the alloy parts etc. When these coatings are adhered, they round out the hard edges of the metal. The only finish that I know of that maintains the hard edge of its host is MP3. Those round edges in a gun with tight tolerances need to be resharpened. I am by no means a gunsmith, but it works well for me.
Your thoughts?
Re: Concealed carry 45.
I don't subscribe to the break-in to correct problems. I don't like to buy a product that requires fixin' out of the box. Kimber apparently does very little QC. Also, I would be amazed to learn they test fire more than one round per weapon. If they do, they know they're often shipping crap.
It's a shame. They had a good rep, turned out some great looking 1911s for not a bad price, but it seems they suffer from the "next quarter profits" syndrome (see what happened to GM).
I don't subscribe to the break-in to correct problems. I don't like to buy a product that requires fixin' out of the box. Kimber apparently does very little QC. Also, I would be amazed to learn they test fire more than one round per weapon. If they do, they know they're often shipping crap.
It's a shame. They had a good rep, turned out some great looking 1911s for not a bad price, but it seems they suffer from the "next quarter profits" syndrome (see what happened to GM).
Re: Concealed carry 45.
Springfield makes great stuff but for the "semi-custom" I am partial to Les Baer, for less than a Wilson you get and equal or better firearm.
Just my two shares of GM!
Springfield makes great stuff but for the "semi-custom" I am partial to Les Baer, for less than a Wilson you get and equal or better firearm.
Just my two shares of GM!
Re: Concealed carry 45.
Thanks again everyone. I ordered a CQB Compact. Green/Green. I'll let you know what I think after it gets here.
Thanks again everyone. I ordered a CQB Compact. Green/Green. I'll let you know what I think after it gets here.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Freddy J</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks again everyone. I ordered a CQB Compact. Green/Green. I'll let you know what I think after it gets here. </div></div>
I don't think you will be disappointed,
Now for the practicing part.....
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Freddy J</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks again everyone. I ordered a CQB Compact. Green/Green. I'll let you know what I think after it gets here. </div></div>
I don't think you will be disappointed,
Now for the practicing part.....
Re: Concealed carry 45.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twisted</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I carry a Glock 30 daily in a Ctac IWB holster and love it. </div></div>
Twisted, Nice rig, I carry my G 30 and G 36 in C-=TAC holsters as well.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twisted</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I carry a Glock 30 daily in a Ctac IWB holster and love it. </div></div>
Twisted, Nice rig, I carry my G 30 and G 36 in C-=TAC holsters as well.
Re: Concealed carry 45.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twisted</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I carry a Glock 30 daily in a Ctac IWB holster and love it.</div></div>
+1 for the Glock 30.
I have a full house custom combat commander and I find myself carrying the Glock more often.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twisted</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I carry a Glock 30 daily in a Ctac IWB holster and love it.</div></div>
+1 for the Glock 30.
I have a full house custom combat commander and I find myself carrying the Glock more often.
